tax

Effective July 1, 2017, Common Reporting Standard (CRS) was implemented in Canada under Part XIX of the Canadian Income Tax Act. CRS was developed by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with support of Canada and other G20 countries to combat global tax evasion and improve tax compliance. In another words, it is going to be harder and harder to try to avoid paying tax, no matter where you go in the world (except if you live in the third world countries).

What does that really means and what was changed?All financial institutions are now required to collect and

We had our Federal budget out last week, so what does it mean and what impact does it do to you as an individual?

- Canada Caregiver Credit

The Budget proposes to simplify the current caregiver credit system by replacing the Infirm Dependent Credit Caregiver Credit and Family Caregiver Tax Credit with a new Canada Caregiver Credit. The new credit is consistent with the amounts that could have been claimed previously and better targets those who need it the most.

- Disability Tax Credit

The Budget proposes to add nurse practitioners to the list of medical practitioners who can certify

I was chatting with a prospect who stated he would do some RRSP in the last meeting and then changed his mind after the paperwork was submitted. He said he made the decision too fast and decided not to put the money in. Welll, the transaction didn't go through, of course.

So we chatted on the phone and he said he flavors TFSA more than RRSP. I have no specific preference on either, to me, it comes down to what works best and it is only an "account type". Most of the time (between TFSA and RRSP), you have very similar investment choices under the two.

Here is the reason why you want to revisit getting a permanent life insurance policy (especially if you have a corporation).

Permanent life insurance policies had been regularly incorporated by financial professionals as a part of tax shelter strategy for decades. Since market crash, life insurance had been we comely used as investment strategy, NBC News' report in May 2008. Come 2017, that benefit will drop substantially.

To make it easy to understand, when any tool allows the saving/return portion over and above its original purpose, it is an investment vehicle.

"Entrepreneurship and Small Business" series, #9 (#8Last minute tax saving for corporations; #7 Business budget made easy; #6 The advantage of a business account; #5 How to pay yourself effectively; #4 How to manage your business; #3 Things to consider when you start your business; #2 What you should do before you quit your full time; #1 What needs to be prepared before you start your business)

The Liberal government tabled their first federal budget on Tuesday by Liberal Finance Minister Bill Morneau. What I think - as a financial advisor for lots of small businesses and working class -

By now, you should have already received your T4/T4As, T3s and T5s, majority of us would have gotten your RRSP receipts for your 2015 RRSP contributions. Some of you, however, might still be waiting on their first 60 days RRSP contribution receipts. If that’s the case, this is the time you can start calling the financial institutions for them.

In most cases, all companies have till the end of February to issue any T4s/T4As to our employees or associates. Bear in mind, if you miss the deadline, CRA will penalize you, not to mention you might screw up your employees or associates’ tax filing.

"Entrepreneurship and Small Business" series, #8 (#7 Business budget made easy; #6 The advantage of a business account; #5 How to pay yourself effectively; #4 How to manage your business; #3 Things to consider when you start your business; #2 What you should do before you quit your full time; #1 What needs to be prepared before you start your business; #9 The federal disaster to small businesses and working class)

If you hold a corporation, there are some strategies at the year end you can consider to lower your tax bill:

Yes, I am doing this yearender at the last 2 weeks once again... I always thought we had gone through them before, we don't have to do this again, I am just so wrong on this...

Direct deposit request

We have talked about this last year but this is even more important this year as the CRA (as well as a whole list of Canadian governmental bodies) is going to stop sending cheques to us to cut cost from April 2016. Since it takes time for them to get things changed, do make the request to CRA before the tax season kicks in. If you don't, I am afraid, you won't get your tax refund anymore!